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SoftBank Finalizes OpenAI Stake as Nvidia Weighs AI21 Purchase in Year-End AI Shakeout

The latest moves signal a turn to industrial‑scale AI powered by massive financing alongside pragmatic partnerships.

Overview

  • SoftBank said it completed a $22.5 billion tranche on December 26, fulfilling its OpenAI commitment and taking its holding to roughly 11%.
  • SoftBank reported the overall commitment at $41 billion including oversubscriptions from co-investors, while separate reports describe a roughly $40 billion package with a $22–22.5 billion final payment last week.
  • Nvidia is in advanced talks to buy Israeli startup AI21 Labs for up to $3 billion, with local reports highlighting the company’s roughly 200‑person research team as a key draw.
  • Nvidia detailed plans for a new R&D campus in Kiryat Tivon near Haifa that could accommodate up to 10,000 employees, with construction targeted to begin in 2027 and first occupancy in 2031.
  • Reporting by The Information says Apple is preparing a spring 2026 Siri overhaul expected to tap Google’s Gemini model, reflecting a strategy that favors procurement over building every large model in‑house.